The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction | Page 9

not change, for we knew each
other--except when I went out to shoot, we were together always, and
we could be together--we did not tire.'"
"I tried to check this current of recollection, that was evidently
overpowering him (as it was me) by a remark on a part of the picture,
and then on its likeness to the youth of the old king. 'Ah! and my child
was like her, for one so young, (as if it had really lived in childhood.)
For one so young it was surprisingly like--the nose, it was higher than
children's are--the mouth, so like hers; so cut (trying to describe its
mouth on his own.) My grief did not think of it, but if I could have had
a drawing of it! She was always thinking of others, not of herself--no
one so little selfish--always looking out for comfort for others. She had
been for hours, for many hours, in great pain--she was in that situation
where selfishness must act if it exists--when good people will be selfish,
because pain makes them so--and my Charlotte was not--any grief
could not make her so! She thought our child was alive; I knew it was
not, and I could not support her mistake. I left the room, for a short
time: in my absence they took courage, and informed her. When she
recovered from it, she said, 'Call in Prince Leopold--there is none can
comfort him but me! My Charlotte, my dear Charlotte! And now,
looking at the picture, he said, Those beautiful hands, that at the last,

when she was talking to others were always looking out for mine!'"
"I need not tell you my part in this interview; he appeared to rely on my
sharing his thoughts."
* * * * *
"Towards the close of our interview, I asked him, 'if the princess at the
last felt her danger?' He said, 'No; my Charlotte thought herself very ill,
but not in danger. And she was so well but an hour and a half after the
delivery!--And she said I should not leave her again--and I should sleep
in that room--and she should have in the sofa bed--and she should have
it where she liked--she herself would have it fixed. She was strong, and
had so much courage, yet once she seemed to fear. You remember she
was affected when you told her that you could not paint my picture just
at that time; but she was much more affected when we were alone--and
I told her I should sit when we went to Marlborough House after her
confinement, 'Then,' she said, 'if you are to sit when you go to town,
and after my confinement--then I may never see that picture.' My
Charlotte felt she never should."
"More passed in our interview, but not much more--chiefly, my part in
it. At parting he pressed my hand firmly--held it long, I could almost
say affectionately, I had been, by all this conversation, so impressed
with esteem for him, that an attempt to kiss his hand that grasped mine
was resistless, but it was checked on both sides. I but bowed--and he
drew my hand towards him: he then bade me good by, and on leaving
the room turned back to give me a slow parting nod,--and though half
blinded myself, I was struck with the exceeding paleness of his look
across the room. His bodily health, its youthfulness cannot sink under
this heaviest affliction! And his mind is rational; but when thus leaving
the room, his tall dark figure, pale lace, and solemn manner, for the
moment, looked a melancholy presage."
"I know that your good-nature will forgive my not answering your
letter in detail, since I have refrained from it but to give you this
narration of beings so estimable, so happy, and so parted."
"Prince Leopold's voice is of very fine tone, and gentle; and its
articulation exceedingly clear, accurate, and impressive, without the
slightest affectation. You know that sort of reasoning emphasis of
manner with which the tongue conveys whatever deeply interests the
mind. His 'My Charlotte!' is affecting; he does not pronounce it as 'Me

Charlotte,' but very simply and evenly, 'My Charlotte.'"
* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER.

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE.

Part VII.--_Mechanics._
We quote a few articles from the Introductory portion, illustrating the
general principles of Mechanical agencies.
Why are we said to know of nothing which is absolutely at rest?
Because the earth is whirling round its axis, and round the sun; the sun
is moving round his axis, and round the centre of gravity of the solar
system; and, doubtless, round some more remote centre in the great
universe, carrying all his planets and comets about his path. One of the